Japan official to Kim Kardashian West: Kimono belongs to Japan
Japan’s trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, says the kimono belongs to Japan — not to Kim Kardashian West’s shapewear brand.
West announced the line, Kimono Solutionwear, last week. But some Japanese critics on social media said the name, which the reality TV star, makeup mogul and budding lawyer trademarked, is an inappropriate take on centuries-old kimono clothing.
Kim Kardashian West attends the 2018 LACMA Art+Film Gala at Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Image: Invision/Richard Shotwell via AP.
Yesterday, July 1, West tweeted that she will launch her brand under a new name following careful thought and consideration.
Seko, said today, Jule 2, that the kimono is part of Japan’s cultural pride and is highly recognized globally, including in the United States, as “a Japanese thing.”
He said he will dispatch senior officials to Washington next week to urge U.S. trademark officials to “appropriately” handle the case. RGA/JB
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